Until Palin became governor two years ago, the bulk of her political experience was as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, a town similar in population to Lansdowne, Delaware County. Lansdowne has about 11,000 residents, according to census data, a few thousand more than Wasilla, population 8,000.

While "small-town mayor" may not be a wow factor on a political resume, the mayors of these two communities say Palin gained valuable experience governing in a place where political foes need to get along with their neighbors.

"I think being a vice president has more to do with how you can communicate with people," said Lansdowne Mayor Jayne Young. She believed a big part of the job was being a salesperson for the president's agenda. "You are not forming policy, you are supporting policy."

Young says being mayor of a small town is being a mayor "24 hours a day." Constituents do not hesitate to come up to talk to her.

"Being from a small community, you have to reach across the aisles and work with people of opposing parties who happen to shop in your same grocery store," said Diane Keller, who has been mayor of Wasilla since Palin left in 2002.

They're separated by 4,400 miles, but Keller said small-town America is the same everywhere.

Wasilla is home to a headquarters of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and the start of the Tesoro Iron-Dog 2000, the world's longest snowmobile race.

Aug. 16 was Dog Day at the Lansdowne Farmer's Market.

In Wasilla, the top employer is the school district, followed by Wal-Mart. Not that much different from Lansdowne, where the William Penn School District is its largest employer and Verizon its No. 2.

While the two disagree on who should be the next president - Young is a Democrat and Keller a Republican - both agree on the challenges facing smaller communities: taxes, road and sewer projects, and economic development.

So, does Young believe she's ready to be vice president? "Yes, because I'm smart enough to surround myself with good people in their field. . . . And I'm comfortable making decisions. I do it all the time."